Charles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)

It is hard not to feel completely hopeless about the fishing industry at the moment. What was once a prosperous industry is now facing complete collapse. It is utter devastation, as the Minister of State is well aware. The numbers have been outlined multiple times already, but it is important they are repeated until we get to grips with what we are facing and its potential impact. The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea has advised the following cuts, starting next year: a 70% cut in mackerel, a 41% cut in blue whiting, a 22% cut in boarfish, a 71% cut in Irish Sea whiting, a 59% cut in Irish Sea plaice and a 30% cut in Irish Sea haddock. As well as these cuts, a cut in Dublin Bay prawns is expected next week. The fishing industry faces losing up to €200 million.

The Minister of State knows about these numbers. We have discussed them at length over recent months in the fisheries committee. The response from the Government has been extremely underwhelming. It is an attitude of deafness regarding fishing. It is as though these cuts and the industry's decline have already been accepted. We have no control over what happens in our waters, but we should. We have spent so long pandering to Europe that we have completely forgotten our value and the value of our fishing industry.

Ireland holds about 12% of EU waters but is allocated less than 6% of the fishing quota. We are getting back half of what we have and we allow it. We allow Europe and other countries to consistently take and take, which they do. In 2010, Iceland and the Faroe Islands increased their mackerel quotas without consulting the other countries that have a shared interest in these stocks, and we let them. In 2021, the Faroe Islands and Norway raised their mackerel quotas without agreement with the EU, despite Ireland being the most reliant on them, and we let them. In 2013, the Faroe Islands increased its allowance for herring by 229% and we allowed it. In 2020, following the Brexit trade co-operation agreement, 40% of the total value of European quotas was transferred to the UK from Ireland, and we let Europe sell off our half. This deal has been extremely damaging and has cost the fishing industry an estimated €180 million to date. In 2024, the UK signed an agreement with Norway and the Faroe Islands, dividing up 70% of the mackerel between them without involving the EU. We let them get away with that too.

Today, vessels from EU states, as well as fleets from the southern hemisphere, fish bluefin tuna, a lucrative species, in our waters, while Irish fishermen are forced to observe this because Europe has not allowed us to access this stock. French and British vessels continue to fish seabass on our doorstep while we have not been able to fish it since the 1990s and yet again, we let them away with this and much more. For how much longer will we let Europe and other countries take advantage of us?

If this was happening in any other industry, there would be complete uproar. However, the fishing industry gets ignored and is undervalued again and again, despite being a massive part of the country's culture and heritage, as well as a massive economic asset. Bord Iascaigh Mhara, BIM, reported that in 2024 Ireland's seafood economy generated €1.24 billion in GDP. The sector sustained more than 16,800 direct and indirect jobs across fishing services and other services, yet the Government fails to take action. It fails to protect this industry and the jobs of people of who have made this industry their livelihood.

Worse than that, it continues to support the very mechanisms and policies that actively hurt the industry. In its budget announcement at the beginning of the month, the Government stated it intends to support fully the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy. Basically, it seeks to support the very outdated policy that is causing these significant cuts. I understand the total allowance catch numbers are set annually at EU level for each region and each fish species. Ireland then receives its percentage for these through the total allowable catches, TAC, system. The percentage reflects the size and scope of the Irish fishing industry during the 1970s, which is half a century ago. That is why we have no bluefin tuna quota as there were no recorded landings over 50 years ago. Quite frankly, that is ridiculous in this day and age. The country and fishing industry have changed astronomically.

It is clear this policy holds us back, yet the Government calls for the full implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy. This speaks of a Government that is completely out of touch with the fishing industry. The European Commission is currently evaluating the Common Fisheries Policy but the review has been going on for far too long. The cuts we face are due to take place in less than three months. We do not have time to wait. Armegeddon is coming. There is no doubt our industry will be completely wiped out if any further quota cuts are enforced, never mind the 70% cut in mackerel. Ireland's TAC share of mackerel is more than that of any other species and its value supports more of the fishing industry than any other significant margin, yet it seems tthe Government's negotiation strategy is not to reject such devastating quota cuts but to allow a lesser cut and apply for the Hague preferences, a small additional allowance, to patch it up, rather than try to fix the root problem.

It is disappointing that the Government consistently takes such a weak negotiation stance when it comes to fishing. We are so desperate to please Europe that it is to the detriment of our fisheries and citizens. It is not fair that Irish fishers are forced to bear the brunt of a weak Government that does not seem to have the best interests of the fisheries at heart. As I come from a coastal community, an island community, I can tell the House that further cuts to quotas will cause catastrophic damage and we should not be immune to hearing this. Fishing communities are barely surviving as it is. In Donegal, I see at first hand every day that it takes entire towns and communities to make towns successful. Killybegs is one example. It was a thriving town, but it is in decline. The next few months and decisions will determine the future of that place. Killybegs has a history of fishing. It has raised families on fishing, but right now as we speak, fish factories are not operating and boats are tied up. I come from an island, Arranmore, where fishing has been an important part of the island's history. That history is being erased with every cut and every time we are treated unfairly. Many of our island piers and harbours lack basic services such as electricity, waste collection, lighting and water supply. There are problems and on top of that many inshore fisheries face discrimination against smaller fisheries. Inshore fisheries are denied funding from the Brexit adjustment reserve.

That almost the entire mackerel and herring quota is given to just 50 large vessels, owned by about two dozen, is extremely unfair. These people face an uncertain Christmas and an uncertain future. This is solvable with the right Government and political will. The Minister has the will to do this. He will have to do it because if he does not, we are facing Armageddon for the fishing industry all over Ireland. I believe the Minister will have to go in hard and fight for the people and the fisheries.

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